andrew

May 30, 2025

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

4.67/5

Apple’s Privacy-Centric, Energy-Efficient Browser Optimized for macOS and iOS

Safari is Apple’s default browser, designed with a strong emphasis on performance, battery efficiency, and privacy — especially on macOS and iOS devices. Built on the WebKit engine, Safari is tightly integrated with Apple’s hardware and software ecosystem, delivering smooth performance, fast load times, and impressive power efficiency, especially on MacBooks.

Safari supports modern web standards and includes a variety of user-centric features such as Intelligent Tracking Prevention, iCloud Keychain integration, Reader Mode, and Handoff for seamless browsing between Apple devices. It also supports passwordless login via Passkeys, Live Text, and Apple Pay integration — features that align well with Apple’s privacy-first philosophy and ecosystem approach.

Safari’s developer tools are solid, though not as advanced or customizable as Chrome’s or Firefox’s. Its extension ecosystem is smaller and more curated, focused on security and performance. Safari also limits some web APIs for privacy reasons, which can occasionally cause compatibility issues with cutting-edge web apps or non-Apple services.

Safari is an excellent browser for Apple users who value speed, battery life, and privacy, though it’s less ideal for cross-platform users or developers seeking bleeding-edge tooling.